Qatar Moves to Ease Holiday Home License Process Ahead of 2022 World Cup

Qatar Tourism has announced a simplified process to issue holiday homes licenses for residential property owners to list their units for short-term rentals ahead of the country hosting the FIFA World Cup later this year.

The entity is working with popular international websites such as Airbnb, Booking.com, Holidayhomes.com, and Vrbo after receiving a growing number of inquiries on the licensing process from citizens and investors through its website.

It has introduced a helpline and simplified process to issue licenses within a week.

Mohamed Al Ansari, director of tourism licensing, said: “The spirit of hospitality is a distinct feature of Qatari tradition. As we prepare to host visitors from every corner of the world for the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, it is our chance to showcase our true essence.

“Qatar Tourism invites all residential property owners to share our spirit of hospitality while generating extra income from their unused units by simply getting a holiday homes license. Steps and requirements needed for the license are available on our website.”

The holiday homes page of the Qatar Tourism website now offers the options for homeowners to either fill in a simple form to request a call back from the Qatar Tourism agents who assist in applying for a license or follow the steps described in the portal user guide to apply online.

Once the application is accepted, a team inspects the unit to finalize the process. The free license is valid for five years and can be renewed to allow property owners to generate extra income by renting out their residential units for short-term use.

Holiday homes should achieve a minimum score of 75 percent in guest satisfaction throughout the validity of the license.

The move is part of Qatar Tourism’s investment in the country’s growing hospitality sector, providing offerings that suit all visitors’ needs during and after the FIFA World Cup 2022.

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